Label

ABSTRACT

A multi-page label is provided having at least one extensible page which enables the label to smoothly conform to the shape of a container having a curved surface.

United States Patent 1191' Kinne Feb. 4-, 1975 [54] LABEL 1,705,407 3/1929 Joffe 40/2 R 1,974,401 9 1934 M'll 1 40 306 [75] Inventor: Hopkmsr 2.127.081 8/1938 Br ovih 401300 3 Assignee2 General Mills, Inc" lvlinneapolisyv 2,142,547 1/1939 Anderson 40/125 F X Minn. 1 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell [22] Filed 1972 Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [21] Appl. N0.: 280,313 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anthony A. Juettner; Gene 0. Enockson; Norman P. Friederichs [52] U.S. Cl 40/2 R [51] Int. Cl. A44c 3/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Fleld of Search 40/2 A multi-page label is provided having at least one extensible page which enables the label to smoothly con- [56] References Cited to the shape of a contamer havmg a curved sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS 708,916 9/1902 Painter 40/310 7 w 9 Draw"; FIRM LABE L I L I I 1 1 If I1 PATENTED FEB LABEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in packaging and more particularly to multi-page or booktype labels for use on containers.

In the sale of various types of merchandise, it is generally desirable to provide the container with printed matter, typically using a gummed label. The label may describe the ingredients in the container or may describe various uses to whichthe contents may be ap plied (e.g., recipes). 7 e

In the past it has been well recognized that containers have only a limited amount of surface on which printed matter may be placed. Additional printing area often is needed. Additional printing area has been obtained at times by placing a booklet within the container. This, of course, has the disadvantage that the booklet may become buried in the contents of the container and thus not discovered until the container is nearly empty. Thus there is a need to provide additional-printing area on containers in such a manner that the written matter is readily available to the consumer. The present invention provides a multi-page label that may be secured to the outer surface of a container.

Labels having a plurality of pages have been known in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,969 shows a booklet or folder that is attached to the outer surface of a containerQSuch booklets may be satisfactory when used on a container having a substantially flat surface. When book-type labels are placed on a container with a curved surface, such as a convex surface, certain problems are confronted. For example, in order for the pages to lie smoothly against the convex surface of the container, the outer page must travel a greater distance than the inner page. (The opposite is true if the label is applied to a concave surface.) Thus if the pages are of uniform size and if they are tempo rarily secured in a closed position prior to being appliedto the container, the outer page of the label prevents DETAILED DESCRIFTlON- QFTIIE INVENTION The multi-page label 10 of the present invention (shown in FIGS. I-V) is a booklet including at least two pages, an inner page 11 and at least one outer page 12.-

The label 10 may be secured to any desired'contain'er 13 such as by gluing. The surface of the container 13 upon which the label is placed is curved. The curve generally is a convex curve (as shown); however, it may be a convex-compound, concave or concavecompound surface. .'The term inner page" as used herein 'will mean the page placed directly adjacent the container. The term outer page" will mean the page or pages located outwardly from the inner page with respect to the container. The pages 11 and 12 may have written matter thereon including such information as the name of the product, a list of the ingredients in the container and directions for using the product. In some instances the outer page 12 may be a tear-off coupon. The label 10 may be of any desired size and shape. The label 10, insome instances, may include more than two pages. The label l0'will be described primarily as it relates to a container'having a convex or compound convex surface. The inner page 11 or outer page 12 has at least one score line 14 as shown in FIGS. l and I1 and as described hereinafterLPage 12 may have more than one score line and preferably has two score lines. In the instance of a container h'avinga concave or compound concave'surface, the score line may be applied to the.

inner page 11. The label may be provided in a form suitable foruse on both convex and concave surfaces by applying score'lines to both the inner and outer pages. l

The label 10 may be made by printing the respective pages and cutting the pages to the desired size and shape. Page 12 may be laid over page 11 and glued thereto along one edge to provide a hinge 16. The label 10 may be held in a closed position by one or more the inner page from lying smoothly againstthe curved surface of the container. In other words, the edges of the label will curl upward. The present invention overcomes such problem by providing a multi-page or book-type label in which either the inner or the outer page or pages are slightly expandable. The term multipage label as used herein will mean a label having at least two pages.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I shows an embodiment of the multi-page label of the present invention;

FIG. II is a cross-sectional view of the label of FIG. I taken along the line "-11;

FIG. III shows the label affixed to a container;

FIG. IV shows a cross-sectional view of the label and container taken along the line lV-IV in FIG. III;

FIG. V shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. III after the multi-page label has been opened;

FIG. VI shows a strip of printed labels;

FIG. VII shows apparatus for processing the present labels;

FIG. VIII shows a strip of labels after the labels have FIG. IX shows forming a two-page label.

seals 17 until the consumer is'ready to read the inner 'page 11. The seal l7 may be a small glued area. The

glue used in the hinge l6 and the seals 17 may be. of any desired type such as a heat seal glue. When in use, label 10 may be opened by pivoting page 12 along hinge 16 thereby exposing'inner page 11 (See FIG. V).

The outer page 12 of label 10 has one or more score lines such as score line 14. Page 12 is provided with the score line 14 prior to scaling page 12 to page 11. The score line 14 is a slight deformation of page 12 as shown in FIG. II which permits page 12 to be slightly extensible. In other words, page 12 can be slightly elongated by applying a force perpendicular to the score line 14. The score line 14 may be provided by placing the page 12 on .a small slab of compressible material such as rubber and then striking page 12 with the edge ofa metal bar to provide a substantially U" shaped depression in page 12. The score line 14 is a depressed line that, for example, may be ofa depth of about 0.001 inch and a width of about 0.003 inch. In some instances the depression of the score line 14 may extend toward page 11 and in other instances may extend away from page 11.

The label 10 may be secured to a container or bottle 13, as shown in FIG. III, by glue. The label 10 is pressed to the container surface thereby causing the score line 14 to open (See FIG. IV) thus slightly lengthening page.

tion of the score line near the center of -the label will likely expand more than the portions of the score line adjacent the edges of the label.

' ple, in the case of a convex compound curve the p or- A preferred method for preparing labels according to g the present invention is shown in FIGS. \(l-lX. An elongated strip 108 of'paper stock is printed with a plurality ofcopies of the outer page 112 (P10. Vl) using conventional printing techniques. The paper strip 108 then may be processed in the-apparatus 131 shown in FIG. V1] to provide the score line 114. The apparatus 131 includes a pair ofsupports such as tables or guides 132, 133 and a pair of cooperating driven rolls 134, 135. The rolls 134, 135.may be of any suitable material. The roll 135 may be of some compressible material, for example, rubber having a hardness of about 60 to 80 Durometer. The roll 134 carries one'or more ribs such as rib 137. The rib 137 is of a length, width and depth at least equal to the length, width and depth of the desired score line 114. The rib 137 is of a material sufficiently hard, such as steel rule, to impress the score line 114 in the paper strip 108 as strip 108 passes between rolls 134, 135. The circumference of the roll 134 is preferably such thatthe rib 137 strikes each of the 7 pages 112 in the strip 108 at the desired location of the score line 114 as the strip 108 passes between the rolls 134, 135. In other words, the roll 134 provides indexing as the score line 114 is applied to the strip 108 (See FIGS. VII and VIII). A similar strip 109 is printed with a plurality of copies of the inner page 111. The strip 109 need .not be provided with score lines and thus is not processed through apparatus 131. The pages 111 may be provided with a heat sealing glue over the entire surface thereof. The strip 108 may be superimposed on strip 109 with the pages 111 an'd112'aligned. The areas to be sealed (i.e., hinge 116 and seal 1.17) may be struck with heat thereby sealing such portions together. The labels 110 may be cut and trimmed as desired. The labels 110 may be applied to containers as described with respect to label 10.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege'is claimed are defined as follows: I

1. A multi-page label comprising an inner page. at least one outer page and a hinge connecting said inner and outer. pages. at leastv one of said inner and outer pages having a pleat formed transversely to the plane thereof and being of such shallow depth so as not to materially affect the overall thickness of said page, said pleat being positioned intermediate of the edges of said page to thereby provide said page with extensible means.

2. The label of claim 1 wherein said outer page has at least one pleat, said pleat comprising a score line, line, thereby providing said page with extensibility.

3. The label of claim 2, wherein said score line is substantially U-shaped in cross section and the bite of the U- shape extends below said outer page.

4. The label of claim 3 wherein said score line extends toward said innerpage.

5. The label of claim 4 wherein said label includes two score lines.

6. The label of claim 3 wherein said score line extends away from said inner page.

Y 7. The label of claim 1 wherein said inner page has at least one pleat, said pleat comprising a score line, said score line being capable of providing said page with extensibility. 

1. A multi-page label comprising an inner page, at least one outer page and a hinge connecting said inner and outer pages, at least one of said inner and outer pages having a pleat formed transversely to the plane thereof and being of such shallow depth so as not to materially affect the overall thickness of said page, said pleat being positioned intermediate of the edges of said page to thereby provide said page with extensible means.
 2. The label of claim 1 wherein said outer page has at least one pleat, said pleat comprising a score line, line, thereby providing said page with extensibility.
 3. The label of claim 2, wherein said score line is substantially U-shaped in cross section and the bite of the U-shape extends below said outer page.
 4. The label of claim 3 wherein said score line extends toward said inner page.
 5. The label of claim 4 wherein said label includes two score lines.
 6. The label of claim 3 wherein said score line extends away from said inner page.
 7. The label of claim 1 wherein said inner page has at least one pleat, said pleat comprising a score line, said score line being capable of providing said page with extensibility. 